Swimming apparatus.



' No. 634,|28. Patented Oct. 3, I399.

- F. H. B. BABBE.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

{Application filed June 26, 1899.)

(No Model.)

lwwwtoz I V J W V Z UNITE STAT S PATENT Ormcn.

rRIDRIoK n. B. BABBE, or SANGER, CALIFORNIA.

SWlMMlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 634,128, dated October3, 1899.

A li ati filed June 26,1899. Serial N0. 721,843. (No model.)

to be a fuli, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus to aid in swimming.

It consists of a palm-piece having radiallypivoted ribs extendingoutwardly therefrom,

a flexible and foldable covering for the ribs,

and means for securing and holding the device in the hands of theswimmer.

It also comprisesdetails of construction, which will be more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the figureillustrates my invention.

A is the palm-piece, which'is made of any suitable material and, as hereshown, segmental in its outer periphery, the inner portion beingapproximately straight, so that it may be grasped in the hand.

B are ribs extending radially outward and pivoted in a slot made in acurved outer periphery of the handpiece, so that they are turnable abouttheir pivots. These ribs may be of any desired number, preferably five,leaving four spaces between them, through which the fingers of theswimmer may pass, while the straight edge of the palm-piece lying withinthe palm of the hand the thumb will extend up on the opposite sidethereof, so as to hold it as firmly as may be desired.

The rib B nearest to the thumb is fixed and the other ribs movable, soas to be opened from or closed against the fixed rib.

\Vhen closed, the device is in small compass and easily portable.

Upon the radial ribs is fixed a flexible covering O, which will foldwhen the ribs are closed together similar to a fan and may be extendedwhen the ribs are'opened outwardly.

The device is maintained in an extended position partly by the fingerspassing between the ribs exterior to the convex edge of the palm-pieceand interior to the inner edge of the flexible covering material andpartly'by the action of a spring D, one end of which is attached to theoutermost of the ribs B and the other is adjustably connected with thepalmpiece, so that any desired tension may be given it toretain thedevice extended with a yielding pressure.

E is a strap or other device fixed to the palm-piece and extendingbackwardly, adapted to be secured to the wrist of the swimmer, so thatwhen desired the grasp upon the device may be released and it will hangsuspended from the wrist, leaving the hands free for other uses.

In construction the rib B,nearest the thumb, extends nearly straightoutwardly from the palm-piece and more nearly parallel with the inneredge of this piece than radially toward the exact center; but the outerrib nearest the little finger extends outwardly more nearly at rightangles with the outer edge of the palm-piece, thus projectingconsiderably beyond the outer side of the hand. The object of thisconstruction is to assist in feathering or bringing the device edgewiseto the water when the hands are moved forward, this efiect beingproduced by the greater pressure upon the outer edge of the device,which tends to turn the hand so as to bring it in line'with the plane offorward movement. As soon as the backward movement of the handscommences the pressure upon this projecting outer edge tends to swing itback again at right angles with the direction of movement of the hands,and it thus acts to bring the device into proper position to exert itsforce against the water without any undue effort in turning the hands.This is an improved arrangement, making it much easier for the swimmerand using less exertion while swimming.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,- and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A swimming device consisting of a palmpiece having a straight inneredge, and a semicircular outer periphery, a channel formed in said outerperiphery, radial bars pivoted in said channel, a flexible coveringfixed to said bars and leavinga space between IGO the bar upon theopposite side extending approximately at right angles with the oppositeedge of the palm-piece, a flexible covering uniting said bar and aspring attachment to the outermost bar by which the device is heldextended when in use.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRIDRIOK H. B. BABBE. itnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, GEO. H. STRONG.

